-Murseli says he was ostracized for not playing along, others say his election plans a conflict-

OSOYOOS TIMES-June 25, 2008-

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

When four of the five members of Osoyoos's now-disbanded Council Remuneration Committee resigned from their duties on May 22, they said the reason behind their decision was a potential conflict of interest arising from the committee's fifth member's expressed intention to run in November's municipal election.
That member, however, claims there is more to the story.
The remuneration committee, an organization of citizens designed to review and make recommendations on the salaries received by the mayor and councillors, was established by Osoyoos town council earlier this year.
In their resignation letter to council, committee members Peter Steele, Bill Robertson, Bill Collins and June Harrington wrote, we feel it is morally wrong and potentially damaging to our individual reputations in the community if we were to continue to serve in this capacity after Sy Murseli said he would run for Osoyoos town council.
Legal counsel for the Town of Osoyoos has since determined there was no conflict of interest for any of the committee's members.
Murseli, however, said that a conflict between himself and other committee members began at an April 18 meeting after he brought in a letter from a disgruntled taxpayer regarding councillors' remuneration.
If they were going to muzzle me . . . I was going to resign, Murseli said, adding he'd offered to resign that day but his colleagues had urged him not to.
Murseli has alleged the real reason behind the other committee member's resignations is that he refused to go along with the agenda of the majority and agree to give council members raises, instead suggesting the question be put to a referendum.
I'm unaware of those allegations, Steele said in a June 19 telephone interview.
When asked about the reason for his resignation, Steele referred to the May 22 letter from the committee.
Murseli also said Steele asked him to resign from the committee at a meeting held May 22.
Steele said he didn't recall what exactly had been said at the meeting.
Former committee member June Harrington said she did not regret her decision to resign and that the conclusion the Town's legal counsel came to makes no difference.
That may be the legal decision, but I still felt it was a conflict, Harrington said. I just wasn't comfortable with it. But I think the committee was doing some good work.rnThe committee held meetings on March 14 and April 18 when it reviewed council remuneration figures.
Interviews with council members also took place on May 8 before what would become the committee's final meeting on May 22.
The Town of Osoyoos has said the issue of council remuneration review will now be left alone until after the November election.
The mayor of Osoyoos receives a base salary of $21,352, while councillors receive a base salary of $14,187.
Council members also receive $100 for each out-of-town meeting they attended as well as travelling expenses.
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